Anchor inserter

ABSTRACT

An anchor inserter provides for inserting an anchor into a hole in body tissue. The anchor inserter has an elongated shaft with a first axis and a distal end and an insertion tip. The insertion tip has a driving tip extending distally from the distal end of the shaft to terminate in an anchor engaging interface. A resiliency between the anchor engaging interface and the shaft allows bending away from the first axis. An abutment member extends distally from the shaft and has a distally facing abutment surface adjacent the driving tip which abuts the anchor and allows an axial force to be transmitted thereto. Preferably, the abutment member comprises a collar extending from the shaft and coaxially receiving the driving tip.

BACKGROUND

This application relates to anchor inserters and more particularly toinserters adapted to accommodate insertion of a suture or other anchoroff-axis.

Suture anchors provide fixation of suture to bone or other bodilytissue. They are commonly employed to attach soft tissue such as tendonsto bone, such as when such soft tissue has been detached from the bone.Suture anchors take many forms but in general are disposed on a distalend of an insertion tool and then implanted into the bone therewith.Typically the anchor is pushed or threaded into a pre-drilled bone hole.Ideally, the axis of the bone hole and the axis of the insertion toolare aligned. If the axis of the insertion tool is oriented off axis itis preferred to have some compliance to allow the anchor to be alignedaxially with the bone hole. It can be difficult to provide a compliancethat allows sufficient bending off-axis without rupturing, especiallywhen the tool is cannulated to allow suture to pass therethrough.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes these and other limitations of the priorart in a simple and elegant design.

An anchor inserter according to the present invention provides forinserting an anchor into a hole in body tissue. The anchor inserter hasan elongated shaft with a first axis and a distal end and an insertiontip. The insertion tip has a driving tip extending distally from thedistal end of the shaft to terminate in an anchor engaging interface. Aresiliency between the anchor engaging interface and the shaft allowsbending away from the first axis. An abutment member extends distallyfrom the shaft and has a distally facing abutment surface adjacent thedriving tip which abuts the anchor and allows an axial force to betransmitted thereto.

Preferably, the abutment member comprises a collar extending from theshaft and coaxially receiving the driving tip. Preferably, a gap existsbetween the collar and the driving tip and the driving tip and collarare not interconnected except through their connection to the shaft. Theabutment member may thus be more rigid and sturdy for an application ofaxial force and the driving member more resilient to accommodate thedriver shaft (first axis) being moved off of an axis of the insertiontip while the anchor is being inserted, thus allowing proper insertionof the anchor into the hole without applying undue force to the tissueforming the hole.

In one aspect of the invention, the anchor engaging interface comprisesa hex driver. Preferably, a tool cannulation extends coaxially from theanchor engaging interface at least to the shaft, such as for examplereceiving suture from the anchor or for insertion of an anchor over aspinal needle or the like.

In one aspect of the invention, the driving tip extends distally fromthe shaft about twice as far as the collar extends distally from theshaft.

In one aspect of the invention, an anchor is attached to the insertiontip with the anchor engaging interface of the driving tip receivedwithin a complementary tool receiving recess in the anchor and with theabutment surface engaged against a proximally facing surface of theanchor. Such anchor defines an insertion axis and the driving tip has afirst configuration wherein the first axis is axially aligned withinsertion axis and a second position wherein the driving tip is bentsuch that the insertion axis is out of alignment with the first axis.

A method according to the present invention provides for inserting ananchor into a hole in bodily tissue. The method comprises the steps of:a) disposing the anchor onto an anchor inserter having a shaft with afirst axis and a driving tip extending distally from a distal end of theshaft, the driving tip being engaged to the anchor at an anchor engaginginterface of the driving tip; b) applying a distally directed force tothe suture anchor via an abutment member adjacent the driving tip andwhich extends distally from the shaft to abut the anchor, the forceurging the anchor into the hole; and c) during at least a portion of theperformance of step b), bending the driving tip at a resiliencytherealong such that the driving tip bends away from the first axis.

Preferably, structural integrity of the driving tip is maintained in theperformance of step c). The driving tip may bend, or perhaps, althoughnot ideally, kink, but will not break into pieces or become detachedfrom the shaft.

In one aspect of the invention, the anchor is rotated via a rotationalforce imparted through the driving tip while performing step b), such asfor example while threading a threaded anchor into tissue.

Preferably, the force applied in step b) is applied through a collarwhich extends from the shaft and coaxially receives the driving tip. Inan aspect of the invention, that portion of the driving tip receivedwithin the collar moves relative to the collar during the performance ofstep c).

In an aspect of the invention, the suture anchor defines an insertionaxis which is aligned with the first axis prior to step c) and anglesaway therefrom during step c).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded side elevation view of a suture anchor and sutureanchor inserter according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view in cross-section of the suture anchor ofFIG. 1 disposed on a distal end of the suture anchor inserter of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the suture anchor and suture anchorinserter of FIG. 1 with the anchor partially inserted into a bone holeand the suture anchor inserter off-axis from the bone hole and sutureanchor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a suture anchor 10 and suture anchor inserter 12according to the present invention. The suture anchor 10 comprises anelongated cylindrical body 14 having a distal end 16, proximal end 18,outer threads 20 and a cannulation 22 therethrough wherein at least aproximal portion of the cannulation 22 is hexagonal in shape to form atool receiving recess 24. The suture anchor 10 is but one example of asuture anchor which may be inserted using the suture anchor inserter 12.A suture bridge 26 spans the cannulation 22 near the distal end 16 andretains a suture 28 passed thereabout. The structure of the sutureanchor 10 is illustrative of suture anchors in general, but theinvention is not limited to any particular type of suture anchor and thesuture anchor inserter 12 according to the present invention has utilitywith a variety of suture anchor structures as will be appreciated bythose of skill in the art.

Turning also now to FIG. 2, the suture anchor inserter 12 comprises anelongated shaft 30 having a proximal handle 32. An insertion tip 34 at adistal end 36 of the shaft comprises an elongated driving tip 38 havingan external hexagonal shape adapted to mate with the proximal portion 24of the suture anchor cannulation 22. An inserter axis 39 extends throughthe shaft 30 and insertion tip 34. The driving tip 38 is affixed at aproximal end 40 to the shaft distal end 36 and extends out to a distalend 42. A collar 44 also attaches to the shaft distal end 36 at itsproximal end 46 and coaxially receives the driving tip 38. The collar 44extends distally from the shaft distal end 36 about half of the lengthof the driving tip 38 end terminates in a free distal end 48. An annulargap 50 is provided between the collar 44 and the driving tip 38. A toolcannulation 52 extends through the driving tip 38, shaft 30 and handle32. In preparation for use, the anchor 10 is inserted onto the insertiontip 34 with the driving tip 38 inserted and mated into the cannulationproximal portion 24 of the suture anchor 10, and with the suture 28extending proximally from the suture bridge 26 through suture anchorcannulation 22, and the tool cannulation 52. The collar distal end 48abuts the suture anchor proximal end 18.

The components of the suture anchor inserter 12 can be made from anybiocompatible material having desirable strength and other properties,such as a polymer, stainless steel, titanium, or alloys of nickel andtitanium. The driving tip 38 in particular might employ materials havingstrength and resiliency under bending loads with a high breaking strainas for instance 304 annealed stainless steel or superelastic metals suchas Nitinol. A weld or proper adhesive should suffice for attaching thedriving tip 38 proximal end 40 to the distal end 36 of the shaft 30, butfor enhanced strength other arrangements can be made such as insettingthe proximal end 40 a certain length into the shaft 30 with a weld oradhesive or compression fit over the extended interface.

Turning also now to FIG. 3, the suture anchor 10 is shown being insertedinto a hole 54 in a bone 56. The hole has an axis 58 and the shaft hasan axis 39 which is angled with respect to the hole axis 58. In atypical prior driver the driving tip 38 would not have an extendedlength passing through the collar 44, but would rather extend simplyfrom the shaft 30 the same distance as it extends past the collar 40 inthe current invention, putting a stress riser at its interface with theshaft. The present design allows the driving tip 38 to be extended inlength while still having a proper abutment against the anchor proximalend 18 via the collar distal end 48. The gap 50 is preferably small,just allowing sliding between the driving tip 38 and the collar 40, butcould be expanded to allow enhanced bending of the driving tip 38 overits length.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferredembodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur toothers upon reading and understanding the preceding detaileddescription. It is intended that the invention be construed as includingall such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within thescope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for inserting an anchor into a hole inbodily tissue, the method comprising the steps of: a) disposing theanchor onto an anchor inserter having a shaft with a first axis and adriving tip extending distally from a distal end of the shaft, thedriving tip being engaged to the anchor at an anchor engaging interfaceof the driving tip; b) applying a distally directed force to the sutureanchor via an abutment member adjacent the driving tip and which extendsdistally from the shaft to abut the anchor, the force urging the anchorinto the hole; and c) during at least a portion of the performance ofstep b), bending the driving tip at a resiliency therealong such thatthe driving tip bends away from the first axis at a location distal ofthe abutment member.
 2. A method according to claim 1 and furthercomprising maintaining structural integrity of the driving tip in theperformance of step c).
 3. A method according to claim 1 and furthercomprising rotating the anchor via a rotational force imparted throughthe driving tip while performing step b).
 4. A method according to claim1 wherein the force applied in step b) is applied through a collar whichextends from the shaft and coaxially receives the driving tip.
 5. Amethod according to claim 4 wherein that portion of the driving tipreceived within the collar moves relative to the collar during theperformance of step c).
 6. A method according to step 1 wherein suturepasses from the anchor and through a tool cannulation extendingcoaxially from the anchor engaging interface.
 7. A method according toclaim 1 wherein the suture anchor defines an insertion axis which isaligned with the first axis prior to step c) and angles away therefromduring step c).